A BUDDING romeo obtained a fake taxi driver's licence to impress the girl he wanted to marry -- but ended up in court.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Nasar Pervez went on to ply for hire using his father's car, despite the fact that he had never passed a driving test.

Pervez, 23, of Pendle Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to using a false instrument, a Hyndburn Borough Council Private Hire Licence, driving without a licence or insurance, driving a private hire vehicle without a licence and obstructing a police officer.

The magistrates initially said they believed the offences were so serious as to merit an immediate custodial sentence but were persuaded to adjourn for pre-sentence reports after further submissions by defence solicitor Graham Parkinson.

Neil White, prosecuting, said Pervez was stopped while driving a Ford Mondeo with a taxi badge in the window.

A licence he passed to the officer bore his picture but a corner was damaged and, when the officer lifted the seal, he found another picture underneath. The picture was of the father of the accused.

" His father is a licensed taxi driver and this man was driving around in his car, picking up fares," said Mr White.

"He told police he had the badge to impress someone he wanted to marry but admitted that he had been picking up passengers and charging them."

Mr Parkinson said Pervez had been given the doctored licence by a friend who was running "something of a cottage industry" with regard to taxi licences.

"He told my client that if he got his father's licence he would amend it," said Mr Parkinson. "Initially this was done to impress the lady mentioned in interview but, after that, he got into the car and used it as a taxi.

"He did not set out to make money from this but was given the opportunity and saw it as a way to supplement his income."